“The field of National Defense is in need of a deep reform, because the conditions under which the international situation is shaped, as well as the regional situation, have dramatically worsened, and have changed altogether,” said the Minister of National Defense, referring to the conflicts of recent years, but also technological developments and new conventional and hybrid threats. Nikos Dendias informed the National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament, about the policy of his area of ​​responsibility and the planning that is in progress.

Reorganization of the structure of the Armed Forces

We must adapt the Armed Forces to modern conditions, said Nikos Dendias and underlined that “there is a need to reorganize the structure of the Armed Forces and rationalize their operation. Consequently, the selection of weapon systems that can support this structure is required.” There should also be, said the Minister of National Defense, a clear prioritization and in this sense, a comprehensive review of the country’s equipment program is being carried out, so that it serves the new structure. “We will have to see how we can create a different, more flexible structure, which will have sufficient staffing and active equipment,” said the Minister of National Defense, who informed the members of the parliamentary committee that he is serious about the ministry and the modernization of communications, the use of satellite communications.

The evolution, innovation and defense technology sector

Indicatively, the Minister of National Defense said that GEETHA will create a new branch, the “devolution, innovation and defense technology branch” and that a new administrative structure will be created for the systemic integration of the use of autonomous systems.

“There are automatic systems that fly, there are autonomous systems on the ground, there are autonomous systems at sea, and there are also autonomous systems under the sea,” the Minister of National Defense pointed out and added that the new structure will include a Construction and Physical Construction Management . The special units that will be created will have the equipment and training that will make them able to respond to a dual role, that is, ED units that will be able to help Civil Protection and society, in cases of natural disasters. Nikos Dendias informed that in the coming days a Joint Informatics Body will be established, which will also have artificial intelligence as its subject, so that it is possible for the national defense to be able to respond to the challenges of the times. An IT Department will also be created at the Military School of Officer Corps, as he said.

Referring to the weapon systems, the Minister of National Defense said that the priority is the “homogenization”, if possible, of the types of aircraft, the availability of the transport aircraft fleet should be increased, the helicopter fleet should be maintained. Priority is also the modernization of the frigates or part of them, but also the homogenization of the autonomous flying systems. “We must proceed with the acquisition of new systems, that is, to complete the acquisition of the Rafale, to proceed with the already ordered Romeo helicopters. For the Navy there is a start of evaluation of the participation in the construction and construction program of the Constellation frigates”, said Mr. Dendias.

Domestic defense industry

In the following days, moreover, a bill for the creation of an innovation ecosystem will be submitted to the Parliament. “There is a perception of buying off-the-shelf platform systems from abroad. I am not saying that Greece can proceed tomorrow morning with the construction of large platforms of its own. But there are successful international examples, I refer to the example of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, but also EU member countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, with which we can connect the needs of the Armed Forces with the Greek Defense Industry”, said the Minister of National Defense and informed that an intermediary body of the Hellenic Innovation Center will be established. “The staffs formulate their needs, the specific center announces them, and finances the construction of prototypes. The manufacture of prototypes, as long as it serves the needs of the Defense Forces, is then financed”, said Nikos Dendias and emphasized that the existing defense industry must be cleaned up. “There has been a major intervention in ODA. I want to be clear, without the ODA there is no possibility for the Greek Air Force to operate. That is why the ODA must definitely be cleaned up. ODA is a decades old sin. If you see her balance sheet, with the affidavits, you’ll see what I mean. I took the political risk that the Ministry of National Defense would take over the matter of the ODA. We installed a board of general admission. I expect from this board the evaluation of the current situation, the consolidation of its budget and the assessment of how we can move forward”, said Mr. Dendias. In Hellenic Defense Systems, the minister said that the assessment is that the situation is not good, it is a highly loss-making business and it should be looked for if there are possibilities to save it and develop, given that there is a huge need in the world, for the production of ammunition . At the Skaramangas Shipyards, where there is a private investor, the Navy does not have any ships in it, but it goes without saying that there is construction and repair work for the Greek shipbuilding industry.

Tenure – Education

Referring to the term, the Minister of National Defense said that sufficient training must be offered to conscripts and also, in principle on a voluntary basis, that there should be recall at regular intervals and retraining in the units, so that we have such a number that allows us to respond to the challenges. The Finnish model has been chosen as the initial approach, said Nikos Dendias and added that the goal is to have skills certification, which will be a professional qualification.

At the same time, the development of the career of officers and non-commissioned officers is reviewed, so that it is both more efficient and better.

The creation of a single defense science structure is also planned. There will be an umbrella that will also handle the Ephesian School, the Icarian School, the Officer Corps School, etc., which will be given the ability to provide Masters and PhD degrees and do research.

To improve the life of the executives, the program of 1400 houses throughout the territory has been prepared. In the first phase, the construction of 700 houses will begin on the islands and Evros, where the need for housing is very vital, said Mr. Dendias.